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F. D. GRANGER. I SINGLE TRIGGER LOCK FOP. DOUBLE BARREL GUNS- PatentedDec. 1, 1896.. .3

\ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

w wi FRANK D. GRANGER, .OF NEW YORK, Y.

SINGLE-TRIGGER LOCK FOR DOUBLE-BARREL GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,480, dated December1, 1896.

Application filed January 22, 1896. Serial No. 576,458. (No model.)

To (57/ whom if m/H curl/(167 72,:-

110 it known that I, FRANK D. GRANGER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at New York city, county and State of New York, haveinvented a certain new and useful Single-Trigger Lock for Firearms, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to single-trigger locks for firearms, andespecially for double-bar- Io reled shotguns, and has for its object toprovide a new mechanism through which a single trigger may be employedto fire either of a plurality of barrels and which is characterized bysimplicity of construction and directness and accuracy in operation.\Vith such mechanism I may and preferably do combine and employ deviceswhereby jar-off-that is to say, the unintentional discharge of thesecond barrel when the first is firedis effectually prevented.

W'ith such objects in view the invention consists in the parts andcombinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood, I have shown inthe accompanying drawings means for carrying it into practical efiectwithout limiting it in its useful applications to the particularconstructions which, for the sake of illustration, I have delineated.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side View, partly in section, of agun-lock embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly insection, of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the sear-plate on alargerscale. Figs. 4 to 7 are side views of the principal parts of themechanism, showing it in different posi tions. Figs. 8 and 9 are planand front views of a means for preventing jar-off. Fig. 10 is a planView of the indicator-actuating means, showing it in a differentposition from that illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 11 is a side View of thesame. Fig. 12 is a side View of the ratchet and actuating-pawl.

Referring to the drawings, in which is illustrated only so much of a gunas is necessary to an understanding of my invention, 1 indicates thebreech orframe, containingthe hammers, their actuating-springs, andcooking mechanism, of any usual or improved character, not necessary tobe further described. The sears, by which the hammers are held movementof which the hammers may be released and the gun discharged, are shownat 3 pivoted within the frame on a transverse pin or pins 4.

'5 is the lock-plate, adapted to be attached to the frame and carryingthe trigger 6 and sear-operating mechanism hereinafter described.

8 is the bridge, attached to or formed with the lock-plate and connectedwith the frame by a screw 9.

The trigger 6 is pivoted at 10 in a bracket 11, attached to thelock-plate, and is controlled by a spring 12 in the usual manner.

The sear-operating plate or device is shown at 13. It is movably mountedon the trigger, and the plate and rear ends of the scars are so plate isin one position the movement of the trigger will cause the plate toengage one sear caused to engage another sear. Various shapes of thescars and plate will effect this result. I prefer but do not limitmyself to that shown, in which the sears are formed withinwardly-extending arms 14 15 and the plate with lateral projections 1617.

The movement of the sear-plate is most conveniently a directlongitudinal reciprocation, to which end it is confined upon the triggerby a guide screw or screws 18 18, passing through a slot 19 in theplate, and is further guided by flanges 22 on the trigger. The plate 13is normally pressed in one direction, for instance, backward, by aspring 21, contained in the trigger and engaging a projection 20 on theplate,\Fig. 4. In the other direction the plate may be actuated by anysuitable device, but my invention comprises a new means for thispurpose.

23 is a star or toothed wheel mounted on an axis 24 in ears 25, formedon the trigger, and situated in proximity to the plate 13. The teeth ofthe wheel 23 are shaped in any desired manner to engage and thrustforward the plate 13 into the position shown in Fig. 4c, and are soplaced that when a tooth is not opposite or in engagement with the platethe latter is received between the teethas it is pressed backward by thespring 21, and thus permitted to assumeit-s otherposition. (Seen andwhen it is in another position it will be cooked in a well-known mannerand by the shaped relative to each other that when the Ioo in Fig. 7.)The wheel may engage the end of the plate 13 directly, but preferably atooth 13 thereon. The wheel 23 may be actuated in any convenient manner,which in the construction shown is effected by a fixed pawl or pawlsacting on the wheel as the latter is moved bodily bythe oscillation ofthe trigger. I prefer, instead of arranging the pawl to act directly onthe toothed wheel, to form or attach a special ratchet-wheel 24: with orto the toothed wheel or its axis, with the teeth of which ratchet suchpawl may engage. The pawl is shown at 25, mounted on the lockplate andcontrolled by a spring 26, Fig. 12. When the trigger is pulled, one ofthe projections 16 17 will be under and operate its sear. As the wheel23 is at the same time carried bodily upward relative to the pawl 25 thelatter will take a new tooth on the ratchet, and as the trigger isreturned to place by the spring 12 will turn the ratchet and toothedwheel one space and change the position of the sear-plate. The ratchetiscaught and held in place, so that it will not turn while the triggerisbeing pulled, bya retainin g pawl or dog 26 of any suitable kind. Itbeing necessary to provide means for actuating the sear-plate 13independently of the trigger, so as to allow the same sear to besuccessively operated and the same barrel to be successively discharged,I have adapted the pawl 25 to perform this function by arranging it tobe moved relative to the ratchet 24. To this end the lower portion ofthe pawl is constructed as a slide 27, movable inward and outward in abearing 28 in or on the lockplate and having an external handle orbutton 29, by which it may be operated, Fig. 12.'

This slide is controlled and normally pressed downward or outward by aspring 30. The upper portion of the pawl or pawl proper is pivoted at 31to said slide and is pressed toward the ratchet by the spring 26. Bypressing upward on the button 29 the ratchet and toothed wheel will bemoved one space and the sear-plate shifted from that position in whichit will discharge the right barrel to the position in which it willdischarge the left, or vice versa.

Vhile an indicating device to show which barrel the parts are inposition to fire is not necessaryto the use of the invention thus fardescribed, it is convenient, and I have devised such an indicatorespecially adapted for cooperation with my new sear-plate.

33 is a cam-surface arranged to move or to be moved with or by thesear-plate 13, upon which surface rests an indicator pin 34, mounted toslide vertically in the gun, the upper end of which pin projects from ormay be visible above the breech and which is pressed downward by aspring 35. \Vhen this pin is most elevated by the position of thecam-surface 33 and accompanying position of the sear-plate, it will showthat the parts are in place to fire a certain barrel, say the left, andwhen by a change of position of the sear-plate and cam-surface thespring 35 is allowed to depress the indicator-pin, the latter will showthat the right barrel is about to be discharged. So long as the changeof position of the said cam-surface accompanies that of the sear-platethe particular means for actuating the former are not of the essence ofmy invention, which includes any suitable means for that purpose. In theconstruction illustrated the cam-surface 33 is formed on a lever 36,pivoted at 37 on the lock-plate, and having an arm 38, which bearsagainst the sear-plate 13 and is pressed against the same by thedownward pressure of the indicatorpin on the cam-surface. The forwardmovement of the sear-plate thus elevates the inclicator-pin above thebreech, While its rearward movement permits it to be retracted withinthe same.

In the use of single trigger-guns a practical difficulty has been metwith in the so-called jar-off (unintentional discharge) of the secondbarrel upon the firing of the first. The cause of jar-oft has not beenfully understood. According to my observation and experiment it appearsthat upon the discharge of the first barrel the recoil of the gun willmove the trigger backward from the finger and relieve the trigger of thefinger-pressure, whereupon the trigger will return to its normalposition, at the same time shifting the parts into position for thedischarge of the second barrel. Following this first recoil is asecondary recoil or reaction of the gun forward from the shoulder which,before the finger can be removed from the trigger, will bring a secondand hard pressure and pull of the finger upon the trigger sufficient tocause a secondary movement of the same and the discharge of the secondbarrel. In practice the above series of movements or operations areinvoluntary and so rapid that the reports of the two barrels are almostsimultaneous. This further feature of my invention consists in meanswhereby the secondary movement of the trigger will be without effect orwill onlyserve to complete that change of position of the parts which isa necessary preliminary to the firing of the second barrel, leaving fora further trigger-movement the actual discharge of such barrel. Thisfeature of invention consists in means whereby the trigger or toothedwheel or sear-actuating device is or are prevented either from movingsufficiently far in discharging the gun for the return of the trigger atthe time of the first recoil to efiect the aforesaid change in theposition of the parts or to prevent any return of the trigger untilafter the secondary pull of the same.

Referring to the drawings, and especially to Figs. 4 to 9, 39 is aprojection, hook, or stop formed with or attached to and carried by thetrigger. 40 is a cooperating projection or dog mounted on the lock-platein a bearing-bracket 41 or otherwise and situated in the path which thehook 39 follows when the IIO trigger is pulled. One or both of saidprojections or stops is or are movable, so that as the trigger is pulledone may pass the other. For instance, the dog may slide in the bearing41, in which it is held and guided by a pin 42, fixed in the bearing andpassing through a slot 43 in the dog, Fig. 8, being normally pressedtoward the hook 39 by a spring 44. One or both of said engaging parts isor are formed with a beveled surface or surfaces lo so that as thetrigger rises the movable part (in this instance the dog 40) may bethrust out of the path of the other part by a cam action. The dog isarranged at such height above the hook that just before or as thetrigger has moved far enough to discharge one barrel the hook will havepassed the dog and the latter will have been thrust under it by thespring 44:, Fig. 5. The trigger will by this means be held from returnor downward movement as the recoil takes place, and consequently thepawl 25 cannot shift the toothed wheel or sear-plate. When the forwardreaction succeeding the recoil occurs, the secondary pressure of thefinger on the trigger gives the latter a further upward movement, whichnow causes the pawl 25 to take a new notch on the ratchet, so that whenthe trigger is finally released and the toothed wheel descends theperiphery of the ratchet will be arrested by the pawl and a turn of onestep effected. In order that the hook 39 may now repass the dog 40, theformer is made with an outer incline or bevel 45, which is carried abovethe dog by the complete movement of the trigger, Fig. 9. This allows thedog to be thrust for-- ward by the spring 4A under the incline 45. Whenthe trigger 110w descends, said incline will engage the dog and throw itout of line with the hook 39, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8,)allowing the latter to pass below the dog to its normal position. WVhenthe dog is thrown out, as above described, it turns freely 011 the pin42, and the spring 44: serves not only to slide the dog forward, but toreturn its forward end inward into line with and above the hook.

In giving the trigger sufficient movement to carry the incline 45 abovethe dog 40 it may be necessary to guard against the pawl 25 taking morethan one tooth on the ratchet. This may be done by providing the pawlwith a stop or guard, such as projection 50, Fig. 12, on the trigger,adapted to keep the pawl out of contact with the ratchet when the latteris elevated as much as the space between two teeth.

I also obviate jar-off (retaining at the same time a short trigger-pull)by arranging the ratchet-teeth relative to those on the toothed wheeland to the throw of the trigger, so that the ratchet must act twiceagainst the pawl 25 in order to shift the sear-plate. Thus on the firsttrigger-pull, which produces the discharge, the pawl 25 will take onenotch. On the recoil the trigger will be released and the toothed wheelturned one space. forward reaction the trigger will receive its second(involuntary and unconscious) pull, and the pawl 25 Will take anothernotch. 011 the final return of the trigger the toothed wheel will bemoved another space and the sear-plate completely shifted ready forfiring the second barrel.

I also obviate jar-off by making the movement of the trigger necessaryfor firing materially less than the movement required to cause the pawl25 to take a new not-ch on the ratchet, so that only by the secondarypull of the trigger will the next tooth of the ratchet be carried abovethe pawl. The sear-plate will consequently be shifted only'after therecoil and secondary pull, and the second barrel cannot beunintentionally discharged.

My new look, hereinbefore described, is so compact as to its mechanismthat the stock does not require to be cut away and weakened, as withmany other single-trigger constructions, but can be used without beingpractically changed from the form in which it would be employed withordinary doubletrigger locks.

What is claimed is- 1. In a gun-lock the combination with the trigger,and a plurality of sears, of a sliding sear-plate connected with thetrigger, and means for shifting the same connected with and operated bythe movement of the trigger.

2. The combination with a trigger, and a plurality-of scars, of asliding sear-plate on the trigger, a toothed wheel on the triggerengaging the plate, and means for turning the wheel.

3. The combination with a trigger, and a plurality of sears, of asliding sear-plate on the trigger, a toothed wheel on the triggerengaging the plate, and a pawl normally stationary relative to thetrigger for actuating the wheel.

4. The combination with a trigger, and a plurality of sears havinglateral arms, of a sear-plate having lateral projections and sliding onthe trigger, a toothed wheel on the trigger engaging the plate, and apawl normally stationary relative to the trigger for actuating thewheel.

5. The combination, with a horizontallysliding sear-plate, of anoscillating cam-surface, an indicator operated by said surface, andconnections between said surface and the sear-plate whereby the formeris shifted with the latter.

6. The combination, with a movable searplate, and an indicator, of apart having a cam-surface and moving transversely to the indicator andengaging the same, and a pivoted lever connected with said part andoperated by the sear-plate.

7 The combination, of atrigger, aplurality of sears, mechanism wherebythe latter are separately actuated .by the trigger, a part having acam-surface, an indicator operated by the same, a lever oscillatingtransversely On the to the indicator and connected with said part, andmeans whereby said mechanism actuates the lever.

8. The combination, of a trigger, a plu rality of sears, mechanismwhereby the latter are separately actuated by the trigger, a relativelystationary pawl engaging upon the return of the trigger a part of saidmechanism carried by the trigger to shift said mechanism from one searto the other, and means for limiting the return of the trigger andpreventing jar-off.

9. The combination, of a trigger, a plurality of sears, mechanismwhereby the latter are separately actuated by the trigger, a relativelystationary pawl engaging upon the return of the trigger a part of saidmechanism carried by the trigger to shift said mechanism from one searto the other, and the dog and hook 39 for preventing the return,downward or forward movement of the trigger when the recoil takes place.

10. The combination of a trigger,a plurality of sears, mechanism wherebythe latter are separately actuated by the trigger, a relativelystationary pawl engaging upon the return of the trigger a part of saidmechanism carried by the trigger to shift said mechanism from one searto the other, and a dog, stop or catch which controls the trigger at thetime of recoil and prevents the return, downward or forward movement ofthe same.

11. The combination of a trigger,a plurality of sears, mechanism wherebythe latter are separately actuated by the trigger, a relativelystationary pawl engaging upon the return of the trigger a part of saidmechanism carried by the trigger to shift said mechanism from one searto the other, and means for preventing jar-oft consisting of stops orcatches such asahook and adog, one of which is movable, situatedrespectively on the trigger and fixed part of the look, a springcontrolling the movable stop, and means for throwing out one of saidstops to permit the return, downward or forward movement of the triggerafter a complete pull.

12. The combination with a trigger, of a hook on the same, a sliding andoscillating dog for engaging the hook to control the trigger, a springcontrolling the dog, and means on the trigger for throwing the dog outof line with the hook to permit the return of the trigger.

13. In a single-trigger lock, means for preventing jar-01f, consistingof the combination of a plurality of sears, mechanism for actuating saidsears upon the backward movement or pull of the trigger, and arelatively stationary device or pawl engaging a part of said mechanismonly after the recoil of the gun, to shift the said mechanism to anothersear, substantially as set forth.

14. In a single-trigger lock means for preventing jar-off consisting ofa trigger and scars, a sear-plate adapted to be shifted from one sear toanother, a toothed wheel for shifting said plate, and a pawl arranged totake a new tooth on said wheel after the recoil and on the secondarypull of the trigger.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK D. GRANGER. lVitnesses:

II. N. Low, S. G. HoPKINs.

